|
School of Music unveils new record label |
|
Thursday, 02 March 2006 |
by MALLORI MORRIS
News Reporter
Look out, Sony BMG, Warner Bros. and Kanye. The Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music drops its new record label this fall.
Split Rail Records is a collaboration of student and administrative
planning and has been in the works for some time, said Kim Wangler, the
head coordinator of the project.
“I think it will give students a hands on, real life experience that they can use in the future,” Wangler said.
The label is in conjunction with a course the School of Music hopes to
create to teach students the skills needed to run and operate a record
company, Wangler said.
The course, “Music and Entertainment Industry,” would tentatively count
for four credit hours and only be offered to students majoring in music
industry studies. The course would teach students how to operate a
record company and offer hands on experience in designated areas to
manage Appalachian’s label.
These areas include artist and repertoire, recording engineers,
publicity and promotion, licensing and an advisory board to oversee and
advise students about decisions concerning the label.
Wangler said students will run the organization from start to finish, which includes choosing and signing the artists.
“I think it’s important to teach our kids about initiative and have
them experience the ups and downs that go along with running something
like this,” Wangler said.
Split Rail Records has no set genre.
Once an artist or group has been chosen, Split Rail Records and its
team of students make the CD, promote the CD through a release gig,
market and sell the CD in local venues and distribute the music on
Internet sites.
Split Rail Records hopes to sign an artist as early as October.
“I’m trying to foster an entrepreneurship spirit in these students
because I see a lot of opportunity in the field of independent work,”
Wangler said.
Sam McGuire, a recording and technology professor, said he thinks the
label is a good learning experience for students and is looking forward
to what comes from the organization.
Dr. William G. Harbinson, the dean of the School of Music, said he and
the rest of the administration fully support the decision to introduce
a record label into the curriculum and hopes it will teach students how
to handle real life situations.
Harbinson said the primary goal of the label is not to make money, but
to promote experience for students including legalities, copyright laws
and trademark laws.
“What we hope to offer the students is a very practical experience of
the recording industry before they go into their internships,”
Harbinson said.
Trackback(0)
 |
News 
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments
